How much does Landscape maintenance cost?

Creating a beautiful landscape is essential to optimizing your home’s curb appeal, enjoyment of outdoor space, and resale value. But keeping that landscape alive and thriving doesn’t just happen—it requires regular maintenance, from lawn mowing and edging to pruning trees, yard cleanup, and more. 

A landscape maintenance plan that goes beyond mow-and-blow lawn care will ensure that your lawn and yard always look their best. “You may want to [cut back] a bush if it’s dwarfing a specialty plant you want to highlight, or add seasonal color to the yard for curb appeal,” says Terry Morrill, owner of Pacific Outdoor Living, a landscaping company in Sun Valley, California. “Regular landscape maintenance can make maximizing your yard’s beauty a reality.”

This guide explains the average cost of residential landscaping services and landscape maintenance. Cost data is based on project quote estimates provided to Yelp users by landscape maintenance businesses on Yelp, along with industry sources. Learn more about how we calculate these costs in the methodology section at the end of the guide.

The typical cost of a landscape maintenance project is $333, according to Yelp data. Prices range from $211–617 nationwide for the most commonly requested residential landscaping services. Costs can fall outside this range, too—from inexpensive lawn mowing for $96 to pricier tree removal, at $1,445 per tree. Your cost will depend on the landscape maintenance project, frequency of visits per month, where you live, type of landscape pro required, and other factors, discussed below. 

Landscaping companies typically charge $100–250 per month for regular maintenance. At the low end, a basic package includes lawn mowing, edging, and cleanup—you can add additional services, as needed (discussed below), for extra charges. A more comprehensive bundle, on the high end, includes routine mowing and such regular maintenance tasks as fertilizing, hedge trimming, lawn aeration, and seeding. 

The total cost will increase for very large yards (above one-quarter acre) or with big-ticket add-ons, such as tree removal.

The monthly quote is calculated based on the amount of time a landscape company estimates it will spend on your property for a bundle of services. Many homeowners opt for a bi-weekly (every other week) service agreement, which may cost more upfront but reduces the amount of maintenance time required in the long run. It’s important to discuss your needs, and what will be included in the maintenance contract. 

Landscape maintenance companies offer a buffet of services, from lawn mowing and fertilization to tree trimming and mulching. Prices are based on the time and skill level required for each task. Knowing the relative a la carte cost of each service (below) helps homeowners decide what their budget permits, and whether or not to include add-on services. 

The typical garden maintenance visit for weeding, trimming, and debris removal costs $224, according to Yelp data, but can range from $142–402. Most gardeners charge by the visit (based on their hourly rates), so homeowners know exactly what they’re going to pay. 

The national average cost for gardeners is $68 per hour, according to Yelp data, but rates can range from $25–118 per hour. If you want lawn mowing too, you’ll pay extra, says Richard White, owner and operator of Good Green Neighbors in Portland, Oregon. The cost for lawn mowing is $58–127, according to Yelp data. 

The typical cost of lawn aeration is $145, but ranges from $89–246, according to Yelp data. Costs vary by aeration method, the equipment used, your home’s location, the soil’s characteristics, and whether or not the lawn needs additional services, such as mowing, fertilization, dethatching, overseeding, and weed control.

The cost of basic lawn edging with a blade edger or string trimmer is typically $96, according to Yelp data, but the price can range from $58–141 depending on lawn size and your home’s location. Edging costs are based on a typical hourly rate of $68 (which can range from $25–118) to hire a gardener or landscaper. To keep that manicured look, trim edging must be repeated up to 8 times each growing season. 

Lawn maintenance tasks like lawn seeding, fertilization, aeration, edging, dethatching, leaf removal, and weed control typically cost $101 per visit, but can range from $64–176 nationwide, according to Yelp data.

The typical cost of lawn mowing is $96, but can range from $58–127 nationwide. The national average hourly rate to hire a lawn mowing service is $68, but can fluctuate between $25–118 per hour. The price covers lawn mowing, leaf blowing (when needed), and removing grass cuttings. 

According to Yelp data, basic lawn overseeding typically costs $207, but the price can range from $115–375 nationwide. These numbers represent price quotes from Yelp pros for the least expensive type of seeding—overseeding—on relatively small areas of about 2,500 square feet. Overseeding (also called reseeding) means adding new grass seeds to improve an existing lawn and fill in bare spots. At $0.06–0.22 per sq ft (how the industry prices this task) for labor and materials, the average price for overseeding a 10,000-square-foot lawn (80×125 feet) ranges from $600–2,200.

If a landscaper charges hourly for lawn seeding, you’ll typically pay $68 per hour, but rates can range from $25–118 per hour, plus the cost of materials. 

The total cost of planting a new lawn (which involves more labor, preparation, fertilizing, and watering than overseeding) averages $0.30–0.75 per square foot. Planting a typical 10,000-square-foot lawn would cost $3,000–7,500.

The cost of tree maintenance service is typically $367 per project, according to Yelp data, but ranges from $223–696 for the most common tree sizes and types. Tree maintenance includes tree planting, trimming, pruning, and fertilizing.

Tree removal typically costs $833 per tree, with a nationwide range of $390–1,445, according to Yelp data. Tree pros generally quote removal costs on a per-tree basis, after an initial visit and inspection of the tree and its location on the property. The biggest cost factor is the tree’s size and its proximity to the house or other structures. A larger tree requires more care and equipment to remove safely.

Other commonly requested maintenance chores that a landscaping company might handle, and their costs, include the following:

The typical cost of a residential pest control visit is $58–165, according to Yelp data. The service can include anything from spraying for mosquitos to removing slugs, spider mites, and Japanese beetles from lawns and plants. In many cases, multiple applications are necessary.

The cost of laying sod is typically $783, but can range from $239–1,798, depending on the size of the project, according to Yelp data. Having a professional install sod will cost $0.90–2.00 per square foot. In most cases, the landscaper will use sod to patch bare spots in the lawn. But to be economical, the area should be fairly large. Sod is sold on pallets that can hold 400–600 square feet of sod, depending whether the sod is shipped as slabs or in rolls. For DIYers, sod plugs are available for some types of grass, usually a warm-season variety. A 16-pack of plugs will cover about 36 square feet and costs about $45–50 for the plugs alone. If you want help, a landscaper or gardener will handle it for $25–118 per hour. Be sure to get watering directions to make sure the new sod becomes established.

Winterizing an in-ground sprinkler system typically costs $65–160. The process includes turning off the water, draining the lines, and blowing out the pipes to remove any leftover water. The cost for spring startup is $75–150, and includes turning the water back on, checking the valves, and testing the system.

Leaf removal and disposal typically costs $90–200 for about 10,000 square feet, or just under one-quarter acre. The cost depends on the size of the yard, and, perhaps more important, the number of trees on the property and surrounding yards. 

These additional issues can affect your overall cost for landscape maintenance:

The larger your yard is, and the more complex your landscaping, the more time and materials will be needed to maintain it—leading to higher costs. A landscape maintenance company takes the following issues into account when bidding on a job.

A small front yard needs far less maintenance than a half-acre backyard. 

A property with leaf-bearing deciduous trees requires significant fall leaf cleanup, while those with extensive flower beds need regular year-round care. 

These systems require a fair amount of oversight to keep them functioning properly—the more you have, the more time their maintenance will require.

Less frequent maintenance visits may be more affordable, but they usually result in greater overgrowth, debris accumulation, and costs. A one-time landscape cleanup can be very expensive—as much as $2,000, according to Richard White, owner and operator of Good Green Neighbors in Portland, Oregon.

The frequency of visits depends on local climate and growing conditions—bi-weekly is a good benchmark for most regions. 

Xeriscaping with native plants, caring for prized roses, sod installation, and other specialty work typically requires expertise beyond that of average landscape maintenance companies. These tasks typically cost more than standard maintenance services. 

If your landscaping includes walkways, decks, patios, landscape curbing, and retaining walls that require maintenance, this can increase the cost. For example, pressure washing a driveway is likely to cost $110–350, and installing concrete landscape curbing costs $4.50–9.00 per linear foot, according to Yelp data.

Labor and material costs for landscape maintenance vary by region. Costs are often highest in cities with a high cost of living, or where weather conditions can make the job more challenging. For example, this chart shows how lawn mowing costs can range, from a low of $55 in Dallas-Fort Worth to a high of $217 in Seattle, according to Yelp data.

Here are some possible ways to reduce your costs for landscape maintenance: 

Overgrown lawns and shrubs and unpruned trees are more difficult to maintain and leave more debris to be hauled away than well-maintained yards. Skipping weekly or twice-monthly service could increase the average cost of landscape maintenance, since companies will charge more for tougher jobs.

Landscape maintenance services benefit from having multiple clients close to one another, which reduces travel time. Hiring a locally based company that already works in your neighborhood might result in favorable hourly rates or fees.

When planning landscaping for your home, consider how you might minimize the cost of maintaining that landscape design. Reduce lawn size, for example, by planting shrubs and ground covers such as clover, which don’t require mowing. Consider native plants that require very little care or watering. And choose perennials that return every year, to avoid annual replanting. Also, mulch frequently to reduce garden care. Mulch gives bare soil a finished appearance, inhibits weeds, and reduces need for watering.

Many homeowners DIY their own yard maintenance—mowing lawns, tending gardens, and handling general cleanup. But hiring a landscape or lawn-care service ensures that yard care is handled regularly, and certain key jobs like tree pruning don’t fall through the cracks. 

A landscape service also brings expertise to specialty tasks such as tree and stump removal, and they’re equipped to handle those chores safely, and with the right equipment.

When it comes to hiring a professional landscaper or gardening company, it’s good to gather quotes from a few different local companies so you can compare costs and available services. Before hiring, ask these questions about their background, experience, and qualifications for the job. The following information is often available on the pro’s Yelp Business Page.

Questions about the business:

Some other questions you can ask about the specific project include:

Questions about landscape maintenance costs:

What do most landscapers charge per hour?

Landscapers typically charge an hourly rate of $68, according to Yelp data. But that can range from $25–118 per hour nationwide, depending on the company, your location, and the type of services they provide.

What do most people charge to mow a lawn?

The typical charge to have your lawn mowed is $96, according to Yelp data, but the cost can range from $58–127. Specific costs depend on lawn size, local rates, and whether any extra services are included in the price, such as lawn edging.

How much do landscape gardeners charge?

Professional gardeners charge a typical hourly rate of $68, but the price can range from $25–118 per hour, according to Yelp data. For common garden maintenance services, you can expect to pay $142–402, with a typical price of $224, according to Yelp data.

Find a qualified landscape maintenance service in your area.

Cost data in this guide is based on project quote estimates provided to Yelp users by licensed professionals and businesses on Yelp (as well as analysis of industry data). Actual project costs may vary depending on location or complexity of the project. Cost data has been reviewed by our industry expert, Don Vandervort, a nationally known home improvement author. Don is the founder of the website HomeTips.com and has written or produced more than 30 home improvement books.